translation

noun

Save Word

trans·la·tion | \ tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən

, tranz- \

Definition of translation

1 : an act, process, or instance of translating: such as

a : a rendering from one language into another also : the product of such a rendering

b : a change to a different substance, form, or appearance : conversion

c(1) : a transformation of coordinates in which the new axes are parallel to the old ones

(2) : uniform motion of a body in a straight line

2 : the process of forming a protein molecule at a ribosomal site of protein synthesis from information contained in messenger RNA — compare transcription sense 3

Other Words from translation Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about translation

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Examples of translation in a Sentence

She is working on a translation of the novel. a new translation of the Iliad There were English translations on the menu. the translation of economic power into political strength

Recent Examples on the Web Yes, Olivia fully commits to the role, and displays some solid physical-comedy chops, but Gottmik deserves equal credit for punctuating every bit with a funny translation. — Paul Mccallion, Vulture, "RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: RUCB 101," 13 Feb. 2021 The plating might get lost in translation with takeout, but those vivid flavors — steamed snapper dumplings electrified by a black vinegar sauce, fish curry in a heady broth of lemongrass and turmeric — endure. — Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, "100 top restaurants for takeout in Boston and beyond," 11 Feb. 2021 This might influence the language that a chatbot or a voice assistant uses, the phrasing by a translation program, or the text of autocomplete tools. — Will Knight, Wired, "How Censorship Can Influence Artificial Intelligence," 4 Feb. 2021 The Ukrainian Service posted the video, with translation and VOA logo, on its Facebook page, without any balancing material from Trump. — Byron York, Washington Examiner, "America's lost voice," 4 Feb. 2021 Though there aren’t any gay storylines in the source material, part of the beauty of a book-to-TV translation is that the showrunners have the opportunity to make a good story even better, and more relevant. — Amanda Kohr, refinery29.com, "Where Were The Queer Relationships In Bridgerton?," 4 Feb. 2021 This how-to-drink guide is a translation of writing from a 16th century poet who witnessed all sorts of imbibing in Germany. — Marc Bona, cleveland, "45 cooking, beer, wine, recipe books – 2020 holiday gift guide," 7 Dec. 2020 This is a translation of its moment, and will age accordingly. — Irina Dumitrescu, The New York Review of Books, "Dudes Without Heirs," 17 Nov. 2020 Herman said that performance was a direct translation from two quality weeks of practice. — Nick Moyle, ExpressNews.com, "Longhorns Extra Points: Texas 27, Baylor 16," 24 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'translation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near translation

translational research

translative

translatorese

Statistics for translation

Last Updated

19 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Translation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/translation. Accessed 27 Feb. 2021.

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More Definitions for translation

translation

noun

English Language Learners Definition of translation

: words that have been changed from one language into a different language : words that have been translated

: the act or process of translating something into a different language

formal : the act or process of changing something from one form to another

See the full definition for translation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

translation

noun

trans·la·tion | \ trans-ˈlā-shən

Kids Definition of translation

: the act, process, or result of changing from one form or language into another

translation

noun

trans·la·tion | \ tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən, tranz-

Medical Definition of translation

: the process of forming a protein molecule at a ribosomal site of protein synthesis from information contained in messenger RNA — compare transcription